Friday, May 28, 2010

Dear Comrades - The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare has enahnced the quantum of Fixed Medical Allowance granted to Central Government Pensioners who are residing outside the CGHS area from Rs.100/- to Rs.300/- with effect from 1.9.2008.

Confederation and Staff side have demanded the enhancement to at least to Rs.600/- or Rs.500/- - But the Government has enhanced it to only Rs.300/- which is far short of our demand.

The full text of the Government Orders is available by clicking the Link Below:

Thursday, May 27, 2010

General Secretary’s Desk

Dear Comrades,

Indefinite Strike from 13.07.2010The JCA after discussing elaborately about the recent developments on Postal Service and the stalemate prevailing in respect of mitigating the staff problems due to the total unilateralism of the Postal board has decided to issue strike notice on 4th June 2010 to the department demanding settlement on 17 Charter of demands for the indefinite strike to be commenced from 13.07.2010.

The following are the programmes focusing the issues before the public and others for mobilising their support to our cause during the proposed indefinite strike.Strike Notice Serving - 04.06.2010Post card Campaign, Meeting MPs & Public Personalities - 08.06.2010 to 15.06.2010Black Badge Wearing - 29.06.2010Non Cooperation - 05.07.2010 to 09.07.2010Strike Rally - 12.07.2010Indefinite Strike from - 13.07.2010

The JCA Circular dated 15.05.2010 is attached with this news letter for vide circulation amongst the members and preparation for the 100% strike from 13.7.2010

Act, Agitate and advance; Success will be ours!

Membership VerificationDue to our fast and immediate action, we could thrash the ill motives and bad design of the P3, BPE Union in obtaining injunction orders from High Court Chennai restraining our functioning as a recognized union. We could restore the recognition within two weeks. Now the verification of membership is over. All the Branch/Divisional Secretaries are now having the list of membership of other unions also. The dual membership has by this time been sorted out. All are requested to furnish the details in the following Proforma to CHQ immediately and see it is reached the CHQ before 10.06.2010.

PROFORMA1. Name of the Division/Branch : 2. Total No. of P3 Staff in roll :3. Membership obtained by P3/ NFPE : P3/ FNPO : P3/ BPEU :4. Percentage of our membership :5. Particulars if any available about P4, & GDS Union :6. Problems if any countered during the Verification process, if so details :

Please ensure that the above said details should reach the CHQ on or before 10.06.2010

All India ConferenceMaharashtra Circle Union has come forward to host the next AIC at Alandi, 21Kms away from Pune city during January 2011. General Secretary, Com. B. G. Tamhankar & Com. Mangesh Parab visited the holy and pilgrimage town of Alandi along with Divisional Secretaries of Pune Moffussil, Pune City west and Com Ved Pathak, ACS Pune on 22.05.2010 to finalise the venue and accommodation. The conference venue may be provided with 1500 chairs and accommodations are being arranged in various Dharmshalas. Alandi is one of three Dhams of Maharashtra next to Pandharpur. ‘Gnaneshwar’, the great saint who wrote ‘Gnaneswari’, a replica to the Geeta has entered ‘Jeeva Samadhi’ here. The town is being flooded with plenty of pilgrimage and visitors. The venue was finalised. The AIC will be held in the second week of January 2011. Com. B. G. Tamhankar, our Ex-President will function as General Secretary of the Reception Committee and he will release a detailed circular soon.

VentureWe are sincerely attempting our best to release the revised edition of ‘Venture’ during the ensuing Federal council scheduled to be conducted from 20.06.2010 to 22.06.2010 at New Delhi. It contains more orders doubling the contents of the previous one. We decided to release the book on the basis of ‘No Profit, No Loss’.

The price may be around Rs.100/- per copy. Please intimate the CHQ before 10.06.2010 about the number of copies required to your division so that we can print the books based on the needs. We request your immediate response.

First Meeting on MACP ModificationsThe first meeting of the Joint Committee on MACP met 26.05.2010 and staff side pressed for consideration for the following important issues:(i) Provide Grade Pay of the next promotional post under MACP.(ii) Date of effect of MACP from 01.01.2006.(iii) Option for earlier ACP/similar scheme(iv) Grant of Financial upgradation between 01.01.2006 & 31.08.2008.(v) Anomaly on introduction of MACP scheme.(vi) Applicability of MACP scheme to Group ‘D’ employees who have been placed in the Grade Pay of 1800/-(vii) Counting 50% of service rendered by temporary status CLs for MACP.(viii) Supervised staff placed in higher Grade Pay than that of the supervisor.

The demand of our union seeking exemption of promotions by qualifying in the departmental exam from the counting of MACP promotions will be discussed in the next meeting very soon.

Disciplinary Rules – Proposed AmendmentsThe Government has set up a Committee of Experts under the chairmanship of Sri. P. C. Hota, former Chairman, UPSC with Sri Arvind Varma former Secretary (Personnel) and Sri. P. Shanker, former Central Vigilance commissioner as its members to examine and suggest measures to expedite the process involved in Disciplinary/Vigilance proceedings. The DoPT has sought suggestions/Comments before 05.06.2010 on the following:

(i) All disciplinary cases should be completed within one year time frame(ii) Penalty causing reduction of pay (i.e) two in minor and two in major penalties shall be converted as one under minor penalty by classifying as ‘with holding of increments for a maximum period of three years.(iii) The punishment of ‘Compulsory retirement’ will be removed from the major penalties. Only dismissal or removal will prevail.(iv) Stoppage of increments. The following norms may be adhered.(a) Upto a maximum of one year on charges of insubordination.(b) Upto two years on changes of lack of devotion to duty and(c) Upto three years on charges of inability to maintain absolute integrity but not causing pecuniary loss to public exchequer and embarrassment of Government.(v) Possession of assets disproportionate to income and acceptance of illegal gratification will attract only demotion or removal from service.(vi) The no. of cases dealt by defence assistance may be relaxed(vii) Honorarium for completing enquiry within a time frame will be paid upto an amount equivalent to the rates prescribed.(viii) Putting some restrictions in entertaining requests for extension of time/adjournments. Maximum three in one inquiry and the interval between two extensions should not be more than one month. Otherwise it will be decided exparte.(ix) If the accused accepts charges, he can be punished straight away. In such cases the DA should consider awarding only a lesser punishment than otherwise warranted.(x) In nutshell, the process of inquiry and decision should be finalised within one year. All are requested to offer their comments on this very vital issue to CHQ forthwith.

Special incentives for sports personsThe Department of Personnel & Training has sought the views of all Ministries including communications regarding the Quantum of lump sum incentives to be granted to Sports persons who win a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal in the National/International Tournaments vide its letter no. 6/2/2008-Pay I dt. 06.05.2010. This was the reminder to the earlier letters dated 26.08.2008, 03.10.2008, 12.12.2008, 03.09.2009, 22.10.2009 & 18.12.2009. Red tapism and delay is common in Government services in resolving the welfare measures to the lower rank employees.

PLI/RPLI Work ShopThe PLI Directorate has organised a Special workshop for union office bearers on PLI at Gazhiabad on 14.05.2010. Secretary General & All General Secretaries attended the meeting. During the course of discussions, we have pointed out about the bad decision of Postal Directorate in entering business tie up with ICICI Prudential fund and UTI which has adversely brought down the Quantum of collection in PLI & RPLI. Further the need about accepting IRDA conditions for enlarging the scope of PLI to other General insurance have been proposed by us. The demand of converting the honorarium now granted to D.O staff into incentive has been focused. The need for fixing time factors has also been stressed by us. Sri Udai Balakrishnan Member (PLI) assured that he will take appropriate decision and convene the next meeting during June/July for further discussions on the subject. The meeting was purposeful to interact the departments venture and ventilate the problems prevailing in the operation side.

No Fee for Postage or man Power for providing information under RTIThe Department of Personnel & Training vide its OM no. 12/9/2009-IR dt. 24.05.2010 has clarified that the public information officer should not ask the RTI applicant to pay fee towards postal expenses or coast involved in deployment of man power for supply of information etc. The full text of the orders will be published in the next Bhartiya Post.

Clarification on MACP by Department of PostsThe Department of Post issued corrigendum to OM dt. 18.09.2009 vide its letter No. 04.07. (MACPs)/2009-PCC dt. 20.05.2010 as follows:“In example 4 in Box No. 4, the text appearing as “3rd MACP to the grade pay of Rs.4200/- on completion of 30 years of service may be read as “3rd MACP to the grade pay of Rs.4200 on completion of 10 years service in the grade pay of 2800 or 30 years service, whichever is earlier.”

The clarification will resolve the non grant of MACP in some places due to wrong interpretation of the main OM,

Bhartiya PostAll Branches are requested to ensure at least 15 copies indent of Bhartiya Post for supply to its office bearers. This is the need of the hour. Articles on service matters and union particularly in Hindi language are invited from the office bearers, Secretaries and readers of the Bhartiya Post.

Let us meet in the next desk with more details and particulars. Till then, my best regards and greetings

Dear Comrades - Though there are more than 30 items of anomalies submitted by the Staff Side to the consideration of the Joint Committee set up by the National Anomaly Committee to go into the MACP related anomalies, only around 8 items could be discussed in the first meeting held on 25.05.2010. Comrades Umraomal Purohit; Juman Singh; S.K.Vyas and C.Sreekumar [Staff Side Members ] attended the meeting chaired by the Joint Secretary Establishment DOPT.

The Circular released by the Secretary General Confederation communicating the issues discussed in the meeting and the results thereof is placed in the website of Confederation as well as placed hereunder for your information. The issue of "Discounting the examination based promotions while granting MACP to protect the Promotees against deprivation of any MACP to them" was not discussed in the meeting yesterday. NFPE has discussed the issue with the President Confederation Comrade S.K.Vyas and he has assured that this item would be raised in the next meeting of the Joint Committee that may take place very soon.

Dear Comrades, A joint Committee on MACP met today under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary Establishment of DOPT. Following issues were discussed:

1. Item No:1:Provide Grade Pay of the next promotional post under MACP. Staff Side pressed for placement in the Grade Pay of the Promotional Post instead of next higher Grade Pay in the hierarchy of revised Pay Band and Grade Pay. It was insisted because the career progression only means the promotion in the hierarchy and not to a Grade Pay which is not present in the hierarchy of the respective department.

The Staff Side also gave an alternative that first two MACPs after 10 and 20 years should be to the next promotional post as per the hierarchy of respective department as under the erstwhile ACP scheme and thereafter the third MACP in the next Grade Pay of the Revised Pay Band and Grade Pay.

2. Item No:2:Date of Effect. It was demanded that MACP scheme may be introduced with effect from 1.1.2006. A scheme which has been recommended by the 6th CPC will be not available to those employees who have opted for revised pay scales w.e.f. 1.1.2006 but had retired or died before 1.9.2008, which is very anomalous.

3. Item No:3:Option for earlier ACP Scheme.Staff Side pointed out that the benefit which employees were getting through two ACPs after 12 and 24 years of service is much higher than the benefit that they will get under MACP after three financial upgradations. It was therefore urged that the service conditions which were available to the existing employees cannot be adversely revised and if that happens then an option to retain the old scheme is inherent. And if the present MACP is not converted to hierarchical pattern, then at least an option may be given to retain the erstwhile scheme of ACP.

4. Item No:7:Grant of financial upgradation between 1.1.2006 and 31.8.2008.In Para 9 of the DOPT OM dated 19.5.2009, it had been provided that earlier ACP scheme will continue to operate for the period from 1.1.2006 to 31.8.2008. However, this is not being allowed to officials who have opted for revised Pay Band and Grade Pay with effect from 1.1.2006. In some offices, it is being insisted that financial upgradation under the earlier ACP would be granted only in the pre-revised pay scales and they will have to opt for the revised pay scales only from the date they are granted the financial upgradation under earlier ACP. It was demanded that earlier ACP benefit may be given also to those officials who have come over to the Revised Pay Band and Grade Pay with effect from 1.1.2006.

5. Item No:8:Anomaly on introduction of MACP Scheme.By an illustration in respect of Junior Engineer of CPWD, it has been pointed out that under earlier ACP they will go up to the revised Pay Band 3 with Grade Pay of 6600/- on completion of 24 years of service, whereas under the MACP Scheme, even after 30 years of service and getting third MACP they will get the Grade Pay of 5400/- only in PB-2. This is obviously less advantageous and therefore the demand for option to retain the old ACP scheme has been insisted. The Official Side indicated that they will consider all these demands and in the next meeting they will indicate how far they can go.

6. Item No:4: Applicability of MACP Scheme to Group D employees who have been placed in the Grade Pay of 1800/-. The DOPT had already stated that all promotions and upgradations granted under ACP Scheme of 1999 in the post of four pay scales S-1, S-2, S-3 and S-4 shall be ignored for the purpose of MACP. In other words all the three MACP will be available to all the Group D employees who have since been placed in the grade pay of 1800/-. If an employee has completed 10 years of service he should be granted the GP of 1900/-; if completed 20 years of service he should be granted the GP of 2000/-; and if he has completed 30 years of service he should be placed in the GP of 2400/-. In some departments these MACP has not been granted to the Group D employees. The staff side therefore insisted an enabling clarificatory instructions may be issued. The Official Side agreed to issue such clarificatory instructions.

7. Item No:5: Counting 50% of service rendered by Temporary Status CLs for reckoning 10,20, and 30 years of service under MACP scheme. It was pointed out that the Railways have already issued orders for counting 50% of service rendered by Temporary Status Casual labourers for reckoning 12 and 24 years of service under the old ACP scheme. It was also pointed out that Courts have also ordered that total service rendered as TS CLs may be counted for the purpose of ACP. The Official Side were of the opinion that 50% of service rendered by TS CLs has been counted only for the purpose of pension. The Staff Side pointed out that the TS CLs have been granted all the facilities admissible to a Temporary Employee in respect of leave, increment, pay scale etc and therefore this may be deemed as a regular service for the purpose of MACP also as has been done by the Railways. The Official Side wanted the order of the Railway Department regarding ACP and the Orders of the Courts for their examination.

8. Item No:6: Supervised staff placed in higher Grade Pay than that of the supervisor. The Staff Side suggested that this item may be transferred to National Anomaly Committee item and discussed there. This has been agreed to. There are 23 more items which have been suggested by the Staff Side leaders of Railways. It was pointed out that leaders of other departments may also suggest many other anomalies related to MACP. The Staff Side stated that as and when these additional items are received they may be included in the Agenda for discussion in the subsequent meetings. The Official Side agreed to.

NOTE: All Affiliated Unions / Associations of the Confederation may send items of anomalies of MACP to the headquarters at the earliest for enabling inclusion in the next meeting. The Official Side indicated that the next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held very soon.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Department of Posts has issued a Corrigendum Order on 20th May 2010 for grant of 3rd MACP on completion of 30 years of total service or 10 years of service from the date of 2nd Promotion,whichever is EARLIER.

After this Corrigendum the earlier confusion prevailed in some areas about 'Whichever is LATER' is now removed.

The full text of the Department of Posts Corrigendum order can be downloaded by clicking the Link Below:

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

With deep grief and sorrow we inform that Com. Moni Bose, Veteran leader of P&T workers , former General Secretary and CHQ President of E3 NFPTE and also the President of BSNLEU breathed his last at 10:45 am today (19-05-2010). He was admitted in the hospital at Kolkata one month back due to serious illness and was in ICU. The entire Central Government, Postal and BSNL workers mourn his death. NFPE pays its respectful homage to the departed leader and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his family, members and comrades.

Postcard Campaign and Meet the Public Personalities from 8th to 15th June

Black Badge Wearing and Demands Highlight Day on 29th June

Non-cooperation from 5th to 9th July

Strike Rally on 12th July

Indefinite Strike from July 13th

Dear Comrades / Colleagues,

The All India Postal Joint Council of Action consisting of NFPE and FNPO Federations and their Affiliated Unions and Associations and the All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union & the National Union of Gramin Dak Sewaks met on 14th May, 2010 in New Delhi.

The opening up of new attacks on the Postal Services and Staff and the highest order of unilateralism in taking various decisions against the interest of Postal Employees and the Postal Services as well as the gross violation of its own agreements by the Administration were the major points of deliberation in the JCA Meeting. Various other staff problems that are not receiving any real attention for long time also engaged the attention of the Postal JCA.

The Mckinsey Multinational Consultant has been appointed by the Department for effecting Structural Reorganisation! No interaction with the Staff Side has taken place nor is the Staff Side provided with any materials related to the terms and reference of the said MNC Consultant. It is widely believed that in the name of 'McKinsey' serious attacks on the RMS and Postal Structure are in the offing. Already the Department has unilaterally pushing ahead with its retrograde move of abolition of 'C' Class Post Offices in the urban areas all over India. It has also ordered down gradation of all GDS SOs into GDS BOs and closure of GDS BOs in the name of merger/upgradation.The direction of the Department is for the total destruction of 'RMS' wing and merger of the entire RMS with the Post Offices is already visible and the McKinsey is expected to nail the coffin soon. Some Circle Administrations are so impatient that even before the McKinsey report; they want to commence the attack on the RMS in violation of the agreement reached on 30th November 2009. Outsourcing of several Postal Operations like Mail Conveyance, Processing of Speed Post Articles, Data Entry Operations of several works have been accentuated.

On the other hand the Department is not coming forward to convene the meetings of Departmental Council JCM and Periodical Meeting with the Federations at the National level. Unilateral decisions like piecemeal cadre restructuring of Postmasters Cadre is being resorted to ignoring the comprehensive cadre restructuring of Group 'C' as like Railways and other Departments. Under the Project Arrow the employees are squeezed and exploited in violation of Rules and in the name of 100% delivery performance. Shortage of staff continues to haunt the services in spite of the removal of Screening Committee. The attack on the Postal Staff continues in the name of decentralization of PLI/RPLI work and no additional staff was granted to any Divisional Office anywhere for the additional work. Due to application of conditions in a mechanical way, the MACP is being denied to hundreds of Postal Employees. On one side the discrimination between the Drivers of Parliament Secretariat and MMS Drivers is created by the Government and on the other side no posts of Drivers are recruited and the existing Drivers are forced to work beyond human limits in MMS by the Department of Posts. The System Administrators are also forced beyond human endurance and they are treated as the middle ages slaves by the administration. Unilateral tightening of work norms and non-creation of work norms for several works performed by GDS is causing reduction of wages to GDS. The GDS are discriminated against on several issues despite many judgments of Court of Law and the justice continues to be denied to all types of Casual Labourers. We live in an environment of total suffocation and the Staff Side is fully side lined and ignored and the voice of the Staff Side is not heard at the higher level of Administration!

It is in this background,, the Postal JCA has come to the unanimous conclusion to undertake an All India Strike Campaign Tour during the months of June and July and unleash a series of Programmes to effect full mobilisation of Postal Employees for embarking upon a nationwide Non-cooperation Programme culminating in an Indefinite Strike from 13th July 2010. The Programme of Action and the Indefinite Strike will be for realisation of the following Charter of Demands:

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1.Drop the move to outsource any function of the DoP including on the recommendations of McKinsey – Cancel the decision to close down 'C' Class Post Offices – Cancel the orders for down gradation of EDSOs into ED BOsand closure of EDBOs - Roll back steps of privatisation of speed post processing and mail conveyance and data entry work.

2.Stop violations in the Agreements on Status Quo of RMS & MMS as well as the merger of RMS with less than 10,000 mails – Create scientific norms for the work in CRC, Speed Post, Logistics and EPP – Cancel the orders for replacing the General Line HSG-I by ASPOs in Mail Offices.

3.Holding of JCM Departmental Council meetings; Periodical Meetings with Federations; Sending of the issue of discrimination of pay scales between the Telecom TBOP/BCR and Postal TBOP/BCR w.e.f. 1.1.1996 to Board of Arbitration; and Holding of GDS Committee Meetings periodically with GDS Unions.

4.Stop harassment of staff under Project Arrow – No extraction of work against Rules – No extraction of work beyond 8 Hours – No drafting of staff on duty and for Training etc on Sundays and Holidays – No harassment in the name of 100% Delivery – Withdrawal of all Punishments awarded to Postmen for minor non-delivery of articles.

5.Fill up all vacant posts: [a] Undertake reassessment of vacancies in PA/SA cadre to rectify mistaken calculation of vacancies in all circles; [b] Fill up all vacant posts in all cadres in Department of Posts [Postal, RMS, MMS, Admn, Postal Accounts, SBCO, Civil Wing etc] as on 31.12.2009; [c] Allow local recruitment as one time measure in Postal Accounts similar to 1997 at Sundernagar.

7.Grant of Pension, Departmental status to GDS extending the all benefits such as HRA/CCA, ACP etc, including Trade Union rights and welfare measurers – Remove discrimination on Bonus ceiling – Modify the 20,000 unilateral imposition of cash handling work points for GDS BPMs – Withdraw orders denying revised TRCA w.e.f. 1.1.2006 in respect of BPMs – Compute work norms to all types of work performed including NREGS, PLI,RPLI, Pension Payments etc to GDS – Implement enhanced Social Security to GDS like Ex-Gratia Gratuity and Severance Amount w.e.f. 1.1.2006.

8.Grant of Parity in Pay Scale [PB-1 with GP 2400/-] for MMS Drivers on par with Drivers of Parliament Secretariat – Recruitment of adequate number of Drivers – Sanction of OSA for the long distance logistics van drivers of MMS – Technology training to Work Shop staff and grant of Data Entry Operators scale of pay to Work Shop Staff.

9.Implement Supreme Court Orders for revision of wages from 1.1.2006 [6th CPC wages] to all RRR Candidates, Casual Labourers, Contingent staff, GDS Substitutes etc – Grant Temporary Status to eligible Full Time Status Casual labourers; Convert Part Time into Full Time; Absorb Full Time, Part Time, contingent in vacant GDS Posts.

10.Fill up all vacancies of Postmen and Mailguards - Roll back the unscientific scheme of Single Postman Beat System – Modify certain unscientific work norms of Postmen / MTS finalised by Work Study Unit - Enhance the Postman Double Duty Allowance as per the recommendations of 6th CPC.

11.Remove all local anomalies in MACP Scheme like application of benchmark for the period prior to introduction of MACP Scheme; Grant MACP on 'Average' benchmark like Department of Railways; Denial of MACP for acts of denial of regular promotion earlier to introduction of MACP; Denial to grant PB-2 while upgradation to Grade Pay 4200 and above to Group 'C' Officials etc.

12.Creation of System Administrators Cadre with higher pay scales and absorption of all System Administrators in the new cadre during initial composition – Uniform Norms for System Administrators including work hours, number of systems, distance factor – Financial compensation for special and extra work performed by System Administrators.

13.Early finalisation of Recruitment Rules for upgraded Group 'C' in PB-1 with 1800 GP – Ensure present system of absorption of GDS and TS CLS in Group 'D' posts into the new RR without insisting for the educational qualification – Filling up all the posts of Multi Tasking Staff without any delay.

14.Amalgamation of Group 'C' Accounts Cadres of DoP and DoT.

15.Roll back of the Decentralisation of PLI/RPLI work – Augment required staff strength in PLI branch of CO/RO/DPLI –Maintain centralized accounting system through the Office of DPLI Kolkata – Fill up the vacant posts of COs/ROs/DPLI Kolkata to manage huge shortage;

16.Parity of scale of pay of Ministerial Cadre in Postal Civil Wing on par with the Postal Assistants and upgradation of posts of Works Clerk Grade –II/Grade-I/Head Clerk – Filling up of all vacant posts of technical as well as ministerial posts – Creation of one Civil Wing Circle for each Postal Circle.

The patience of Postal Employees is grossly misunderstood by the Postal Administration as our weakness and a licence to impose whatever retrograde policies they could think of. Time has come to unite as one man and raise our strong voice against all kinds of humiliation. Let us mentally get prepared for a sustained struggle by accepting all sacrifices. No advancement was achieved without sacrifices and no advancement is possible without further sacrifices. We have presented a united platform of struggle and it is now the responsibility of the rank and file to get organised with all their ideological and other differences left aside in the common interest of all of us. We call upon you to undertake all measures unitedly by forgetting all local differences and stand as one Man with full determination. Our each and every programme decided by the Postal JCA has to be taken to the last employee of the department. Every programme has to be converted into a total success.

·On 4th June when the CHQ issues Notice of Indefinite Strike to Department, all levels of our Organisations shall serve the copy of Strike Notice to respective Administration by organising massive demonstrations.

·The Postcard Campaign and Meet the Public Representatives like M.Ps/M.L.As shall be a tremendous success to put pressure on the Department. [Text of Postcard Campaign enclosed as Annexure.]The Honourable Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies may be submitted a copy of this JCA Letter seeking their kind intervention to write to Shri.A.Raja Honourable MOC&IT for settlement of our justified demands.

·Black Badge wearing and Demands Highlights Day on 29th June, 2010 to draw the attention of the Government about our determination to go on strike. [Text of Badge is supplied in the Annexure]

·The Non-cooperation Programme from July 5-9 shall show to the Government / Department that without our cooperation it will not be possible for the Department to run the show anywhere including Project Arrow Offices and Speed Post Centres etc. The Non-cooperation programme should clearly prove that if we work according to Rules then the functions and operations will come to a standstill. This Programme should be a prelude to the success of the Indefinite Strike from 13th July.

·Indefinite Strike from 06.00 Hrs on 13th July 2010.

United we win! Divided we fall! Unite to win!!

With Struggle Greetings,

K.RAGAVENDRAN

SECRETARY GENERAL NFPE

K.V.SRIDHARAN

GENERAL SECRETARY P3[NFPE]

ISHWAR SINGH DABAS

GENERAL SECRETARY P4 [NFPE]

GIRI RAJ SINGH

GENERAL SECRETARY R3 [NFPE]

P.SURESH

GENERAL SECRETARY R4 [NFPE]

PRANAB BHATTACHARJEE

GENERAL SECRETARY ADMN [NFPE]

P.RAJANAYAGAM

GENERAL SECRETARY AIPAEA [NFPE]

S.S.MAHADEVAIAH

GENERAL SECRETARY AIPEDEU

D.THEAGARAJAN

SECRETARY GENERAL FNPO

D.KISHANRAO

GENERAL SECRETARY P3 [FNPO]

T.N.RAHATE

GENERAL SECRETARY P4 [FNPO]

D.THEAGARAJAN

GENERAL SECRETARY R3 [FNPO]

A. SIDDIQUE

GENERAL SECRETARY R4 [FNPO]

O.P.KANNA

GENERAL SECRETARY ADMN [FNPO]

P.U. MURALIDHARAN

GENERAL SECRETARY NUGDS

TEXT OF POST CARD CAMPAIGN

To

Shri.A.Raja

Honourable MOC & IT

Government of India

ElectronicNikethan

CGO Complex

Lodi Road,

New Delhi – 110001

Respected Sir,

POSTAL EMPLOYEES REQUEST YOUR KIND INTERVENTION TO DIRECT THE POSTAL BOARD TO DISCUSS THE CHARTER OF DEMANDS OF POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION FOR REACHING SETTLEMENT OF OUR JUSTIFIED ISSUES.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

POSTAL JCA OF NFPE AND FNPO AND GDS UNIONS UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED FOR LAUNCHING A SERIES OF PROGRAMMES INCLUDING NON-COOPERATION CULMINATING IN AN INDEFINITE STRIKE OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

NFPE - FNPO - GDS Unions came together under the

banner of Postal Joint Council of Action once again

Considering the mounting attacks on the Postal Services and Staff and the total unilateralism on the part of the Department of Posta on all major issues as well as non-settlement of several major issues of Postal Employees, the Postal JCA came to the conclusion that there is no alternative before the Postal Trade Union Movement than organise a sustained movement of Postal Workers

Indefinite Strike would commence from 13th July 2010 followed by a nationwide Non-cooperation Movement - The Programme of Action containing several stages will commence from 1st June 2010 when the Strike Notice would be served on the Department at Directorate as well as at all levels of Postal Administration.

Full Circular of Postal JCA containing the issues - Charter of Demands -

Programme of Action would be placed in our websites after the same is

approved by the Postal JCA within a day or two.

Get Ready for Action - Get organised for defending our existence - Get ready for sacrifices and advancement!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

GOVERNMENT CONSTITUTED A SPECIAL EXPERTS COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE AND SUGGEST STEPS TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF DISCIPLINARY AND VIGILANCE PROCEEDINGS

Shri. P.C.Hota former UPSC Chairman is the Chairman of the Experts Committee and the former Secretary [Personnel] and Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner have been appointed as the Members.

Expediting the Process of disciplinary proceedings will be good on the face of certain situations like the Disciplinary Authorities taking enormous time to frame the charges and conduct the enquiry which seriously affects the interests of the suspected Government Servants. However, CHQ hopes that in the name of expediting the proceedure the Experts Committee will not recommend changes reducing the time limits available and other rights of the suspected Government Servants under the CCS Conduct Rules.

The Orders of the DOPT constituting the Experts Committee can be downloaded by clicking the link below:

Friday, May 7, 2010

Department of Posts ordered restoration of Trade Union Facilities to P3 NFPE and other Unions

Based on the dismissal of Writ Petition of BPEF Union by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras, the Directorate which earlier cancelled the trade union facilities of some Unions including the P3 NFPE has issued fresh orders for restoration of the entire trade union facilities.

The Orders of the Directorate is placed here for the information of our rank and file and if any problem caused at any level like cancellation of Monthly Meeting etc, the Divisional Secretaries are requested to immediately approach their respective SSPOs / SPOs for restoration of all such Trade Union facilities.

I am directed to refer to the Department's letters of even number dated 01.04.2010 and dated 19.04.2010 on the above mentioned subject. Honourable High Court of Judicature at Madras, has passed an order dated 26.04.2010 in the Writ Petition No.5848 of 2010 vacating the interim injunction order and directing the Respondents to expedite the process of verification under Rule 7 ( of the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993) and announce the results expeditiously preferably within three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

2. Consequent upon directions of the Court, the trade union facilities , which were withdrawn from Respondents 5 to 7 of the Petition, stand restored.

3. As per schedule of verification indicated in the Department's letter No.13/10//2010-SR dated 18.02.2010 ibid, the stage of submission of ' 'Letters of Authorization' has been completed on 26.04.2010. In order to comply with the directions of the Court, it is requested to stick to the prescribed time schedule to complete the verification process and submit the consolidated statement in Pro-forma IV to the undersigned within the stipulated date i.e., 25.06.2010 positively.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

KERALA NFPE CIRCLE UNIONS HOLD JOINT CIRCLE CONFERENCES IN ERNAKULAM

INAUGURAL SESSION - SUBJECTS COMMITTEE - CULTURAL SHOW - TRADE UNION SEMINAR - CULTURAL FIELD EXPERTS DISCUSSION - AND RALLY AND OPEN SESSION ON THE FINAL DAY ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOINT CIRCLE CONFERENCES.

DOPT ISSUED THE OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE

HELD ON 27th MARCH 2010

As per the Minutes the Chairman of the National Anomaly Committee assured that all new schemes will be introduced only after consultations with the Staff Side. Will the spirit of this statement will be kept in mind by the Postal Authorities is highly doubtful.

The Chiarman assured constitution of a separate Joint Committee to look into the anomalies of MACP and the same is already constituted as we have intimated in our earlier blog.

Chairman assured that the question of revision of FMA [Fixed Medical Allowance] is under the consideration of the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare but he will take up with the Cabinet Secretary for early decision on this matter.

Grant of 1800 Grade Pay to Temporary Status Casual Labourers is under the consideration of the DOPT.

Date of increment on 1st July will not be postponed if an official do not have 6 months regular service from 1st January and 1st July every year; If the official has put in minimum 6 months regular service in a year his increment would be drawn on 1st July automatically - Orders to this effect would be issued soon.

On important issues like grant of increment on 1.1.2006 to all officials whose increment date is between February and June, the Minutes says that this issue would be deeply considered for analysing any further anomalies and appropriate orders would be issued before the next meeting or if necessary further discussions would be held with the staff side by the Department of Expenditure.

Next Meeting of National Anomaly Committee will be held in last week of June 2010.

Full text of the Minutes can be downloaded by clicking the Link Below:

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

As per the discussions held in the National Anomaly Committee meeting on 27.03.2010, a Joint Committee consisting of Officers from Official Side and Leaders from Staff Side has been consitituted. This Committee will go into all anomalies forwarded by the Secretary Staff Side National Council JCM and submit its report to the Chairman of National Anomaly Committee.

Comrades Raghavaiah Leader Staff Side; Umraomal Purohit Secretary Staff Side; S.K.Vyas President Confederation of CG Employees; and C.Srikumar General Secretary AIDEF are the members of the Joint Committee from Staff Side.

The full text of the orders of the DOPT on constitution of Joint Committee can be downloaded by clicking on the following Link:

Sunday, May 2, 2010

MODEL RECRUITMENT RULES FOR MULTI-SKILLED EMPLOYEES ISSUED BY DOPT

We have been demanding early finalization of Recruitment Rules to enable recruitment of Multi-Skilled Employees in all Deprtments - Now the Model Recruitment Rules is ordered by DOPT and all Departments are asked to finalize the same for each and every Departments.

The upgraded Group 'D' posts inTO Group 'C' will hereafterwords designated as " MULTI TASKING STAFF" - This new designation is more appropriate than Multi-Skilled Employees because the latter indirectly means all other categories of staff or not multi-skilled as like these upgraded Group 'C' posts. The misnomer 'Multi-Skilled Employees' has been corrected by designating as "MULTI TASKING STAFF"

It has been clarified by the DOPT Order that the purpose of Multi Tasking Staff means that one employee performing jobs hitherto perfomed by several Group 'D' Employees.

The Minimum Educational Qualifiction required is fixed as 'Matricultion' or 'ITI' [whereever technical qualification is required].

The Model nature of Duties to be performed by the Multi Tasking Staff has been noted in t annexure - II of the above Model Recruitment Rules which are self explanatory to show that the earlier orders issued by Department of Posts entrusting the duties of DATA ENTRY WORK performed by Postal Assistants / Sorting Assistants was wrong. NFPE and the Staff Side had also demanded higher scale of pay to Multi-Skilled Employees or Postmen staff if they have to be extracted with Data Entry Work. Now the recent orders of DOPT makes the position very clear that the Multi Tasking Staff are to perform duties other than Data Entry Operations.

Full Text of DOPT Orders cana be downloaded by clicking on the Link Below: